The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1887-02-26

1D6Se IanUS can De operated at UeIIST
advantage to a few individuals upon long
leases at low rents, and the Government
is thereby spared the trouble and ex-
pense Of an intelligent land administra-
ton. In other words, land colonization
is not the settled policy OF the Govern
ment; if it were, the Bulletin" would
have been correct in its conclusion as to
the result OF official incapacity. If not
actually discouraged, a colonization pol
icy is certainly quietly dropped out OF
sight and mind.
And this brings US to the "Gazette's"
bill Of indictment against the Govern
ment for not giving effect TO the Home
stead Law. 1t is true that this law re-
mains on the Statute book, but it is
dead letter. It's defects are many and
would render abOrtive any attempt to
carry it into effect. Ii proof were needed
OF the ignorance OF all parties concerned
regarding practical colonization, 1t Is
furnished by the Homestead Law. This
law should have been amended in the
last Legislature, but nobody seemed 10
care about it. It's author made no sign,
and none of the native Hawaiian mem
bers seemed to attach any Importance to
it. Why should they? Have not the
natives been dispOsing as speedily as
possible bv sale, lease or mortgage OF
their kuleanas; and what interest have
they in establishing strangers and for
eigners upon the soil, for 1t can hardly
be expected that they would 'cOlonlze"
under the onerous conditions OF this law
when they value their own freehold in
terests SO lightly. "Fair play is jewel,
and in this homestead business we think
the Government is not quite fairly hand
led. The mere fact that law is upon
the Statute book is no proof that 1t Is
practicable measure. Ii a law had been
passed ordaining the erection OF costly
dwellings for all classes OF people, or Tor
the regulation of wages and costumes
would it have been operative? The truth
appears to be that the Homestead Law
was introduced and passed for political
effect, and with no serious purpose to
carry it out.
If the Gazette" would advocate the
segregation of large uncultlvated estates,
and the sale of small farms at some
thing like reasonable prices, it might do
a little to promote land colonization; but
while yearly rental is asked, exceed
ing in most cases what the estate in fee
would have brought a few years ago, it is
simply idle to talk of Portuguese or any
pieces of land. They can neither afford
to buy nor to pay the rent unless under
very exceptional conditions as to water,
soil and proximity to the Honolulu mar
ket. These advantages, however, cover
a limited area, and if we do not mistake
the ground is nearly if not quite occupied.
The Reciprocity Treaty with the United
States was the prime factor of this
upward movement, and the requirements
of the home market for rice for Chin
csc consumption, protected as it was by
an import duty and free admission to
the States, induced the Chinese to cult
vate rice upon terms that would other
wise have been prohibitory. Colonial
ton cannot be built up in this way, and
it is very evident to impartial observers
that private land owners are quite as
much to blame in this matter as the
Government.
Furthermore, it is plain that the land
policy OF the Government, and the land
policy of large property owners as to in
dustrial colonization runs on all tours.
Ii the country is to progress, however,
this policy must be changed. Whilst
American Reciprocity continues things
may 60 along as they are without much
friction; but, as from the very nature of
things that Convention cannot be per-
petual, it follows that the true national
policy of the Kingdom is one which will !
steadily increase the number of land +.
owners and producers, and SO multiply
its means of self-dependence. But it
does not by any means follow that such
a policy will be adopted and pursued.
Indeed, we are very much inclined to
think that should a crisis occasioned
by the abrOgatiOn of the treaty arise
it will be met in an entire
ly different way, that is to say, by
inviting and encouraging the immigra
ton of unlimited servile labor, so that
production may be reduced in cost to
leave sufficient margin OF profit on the
capital invested This would be the
death-knell of the native Hawaiian race,
and with it would also vanish the inter-
national sentiment which has served, in
stead of numbers and wealth, to pre-
serve the independence and integrity OF
this island group.
1.-The Planters Monthly